Agar, O'Keefe added to Test squad for SCG

Australia have axed batsman Nic Maddinson and recalled spinners Ashton Agar and Steve O'Keefe for the third Commonwealth Bank Test against Pakistan as the hosts ponder a spin-heavy attack for the clash at the SCG. 

WA allrounders Agar and Hilton Cartwright are seemingly in a two-way battle to bat to replace Maddinson, who has made just 27 runs in his four Test innings, with coach Darren Lehmann saying selectors consider Agar - who bats in the top six for his state and made 98 on Test debut - is capable of batting in the top six.

Cartwright will become Australia's 450th Test cricketer, and the sixth debutant this summer, if he plays in Sydney.

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Agar and O'Keefe have been named alongside incumbent spinner Nathan Lyon, who had been under pressure but gave his chances of retention in the side a much-needed boost with three crucial wickets on the final day of Australia's incredible win at the MCG today. 

Lehmann hinted the hosts would play at least two spinners in Sydney, one of which would be Lyon, but added he and the selectors would assess conditions once they arrive in Sydney in the New Year.

"I think we would, but once we see the weather and the wicket ... then we'll make our decisions from there," Lehmann said of playing two spinners.

"(Lyon) bowled beautifully today and there's no reason why he wouldn't (play in Sydney)."

"We wanted a left-armer to go away from all of their right-handers.

"(Agar has) made Shield hundreds and obviously batted really well on his Test debut.

"He's certainly got the talent to be a batting allrounder or a spinning allrounder."

Paceman Chadd Sayers has dropped out of the squad for Boxing Day along with Maddinson to make way for the two spinners.

It seems the Australians are weighing up two options for the SCG Test; playing two frontline spinners in Lyon and O'Keefe, two frontline quicks (most likely Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood) and pace-bowling allrounder Cartwright. Alternatively, they could stick with one frontline spinner (Lyon), three quicks (Starc, Hazlewood and Jackson Bird) and include Agar as a spin-bowling allrounder.

It would be unlikely that the hosts would include all three spinners in the same XI.

Agar last played Test cricket in the 2013 Ashes series, although he was added to an extended Australian squad for the Sydney Test two years ago.

The 23-year-old has the wickets on the board and momentum to boot after his last-ball heroics in the Big Bash League last night.

Earlier this season, the Western Australian captured 10-141 against the NSW Blues at the SCG in the same match where O’Keefe claimed eight wickets.

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O'Keefe has played three Tests, including the Sydney Test against the West Indies last summer, and partnered Lyon in the first Test in Sri Lanka this winter before injury ruled him out for the remainder of the series.

But bad luck has followed the 32-year-old since then; he missed the Matador Cup in October due to a finger injury and then injured his calf in the Shield match against Victoria on the eve of the revamped squad announcement for the Adelaide Test against South Africa.

Since then, O’Keefe has played three T20 matches for the Sydney Sixers in the KFC Big Bash League, with his durability the only doubt leading into Sydney.

Australia's Third Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Hilton Cartwright, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Steve O'Keefe, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade

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